Walk Description

The day dawned sunny and crisp therefore we made the 25 mile journey from home over to Brecon to walk a version of the Brecon Beacons Horseshoe taking in the 4 Summits of Fan y Big, Cribyn, Pen y Fan and Corn Du. There are several versions of the Horseshoe but this is our favourite and starts from the Waterfall Car Park at Torpantau.

There is a steep ascent at the start to get you on to the escarpment of Craig y Fan Ddu but once you are up on the top there then begins a superb ridge walk along to Graig Fan Las, Craig Cwareli and Craig Cwmoergwm until you begin the gradual ascent up to the Summit of Fan y Big. From Fan y Big there is a sharp descent to the col and this is followed by a tough ascent up to the top of Cribyn. The summit gained, we then enjoyed another tough descent down to the col and an even harder ascent up to the top of Pen y Fan. These up and downs are hard work but the views over the landscape more than make up for it.

We were up on Pen y Fan just before 4 o'clock therefore the crowds had all but disappeared although there were still a few people about who had come up from The Storey Arms area. There is a short walk over to Corn Du before we made our way off around the side of Pen y Fan and Cribyn to the col just below Fan y Big. From here it is a long but pleasant walk back to Taf Fechan and Torpantau of about 5 miles but it is flat and on a good path and we eventually reached the car just as the sun was setting. This was a beautiful walk with great weather and superb views over the Brecon Beacons. ​

The stairway to heaven - Torpantau Car Park is in the trees below

Angie & Fudge heading up to Craig y Fan Ddu

Dave on Craig y Fan Ddu

Glorious on Craig y Fan Ddu looking to Graig Fan Las

Graig Fan Las

Corn Du and Pen y Fan - Fudge is clearly wanting to crack on

Looking back to Craig y Fan Ddu

Craig Cwareli

It does not get much better than this - 4 great summits on a super sunny day

From front to back - Dave, Fan y Big, Cribyn, Pen y Fan and Corn Du

And a bit closer.....

Craig Cwmoergwm

The Cwmoergwm escarpment

The valley of Cwm Oergwm

Dave & Fudge on the Summit of Fan y Big

The ascent to Cribyn

The col before the ascent to Cribyn

Looking back to the col - our path back to the car is the clear one moving across the lower slope of Fan y Big

The Neuadd Reservoirs from the ascent of Cribyn. Taf Fechan forest is on the left.

Top Dog - Fudge on the Summit of Cribyn

The ascent to Pen y Fan from Cribyn

Cribyn from the ascent of Pen y Fan

A great place to be on a day like today

Corn Du

Llyn Cwm Llwch

Corn Du Summit looking over Llyn Cwm Llwch

Angie & Fudge on the Summit of Corn Du

Route of descent from Corn Du. The path swings around to the right to the col below Cribyn

One last look back from the path back to Taf Fechan

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